Kentucky By Heart: Annual Kentucky Book Fair a grand celebration of state’s literary landscape

By Steve Flairty
KyForward Columnist
I look forward with joy to participating, as an author, in the 38th Annual Kentucky Book Fair this Saturday, November 16 at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington. The hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is the culminating event of a week of activities, starting on November 10, called the Kentucky Book Festival.
This is the seventh time —...
Kentucky author Wendell Berry receives inaugural Kentucky Humanities Carl West Literary Award

Kentucky author Wendell Berry received the inaugural Kentucky Humanities Carl West Literary Award, presented in a ceremony last week at the Paul Sawyier Public Library in Frankfort.
Presented by Kentucky Humanities, the literary award recognizes an individual who has made a significant impact on the literary culture of the Commonwealth.
The award is named in honor of Kentucky journalist Carl West,...
State Arts Council’s Kentucky Crafted Market set for March 15-17 at Horse Park’s Alltech Arena

The Kentucky Crafted Market, the Kentucky Arts Council’s showcase event featuring the best art and craft in the Commonwealth, will be back in Lexington, March 15-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena.
“This is the first time we’ve hosted The Market at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena, and we’re looking forward to taking advantage of every feature of this unique venue,”...
Kentucky Horse Park the site for inaugural Bluegrass Rockin’ Rodeo on Nov. 17-18

The Kentucky Horse Park will host the inaugural Bluegrass Rockin’ Rodeo, Nov. 17-18 in the Alltech Arena.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.
The event is part of the International Pro Rodeo Association and serves as the IPRA National All-Region Finals. From big cities and small towns, to major league stadiums and local fairgrounds, the IPRA has become the sport’s second-largest...
CP National Horse Show bringing five-day hunter/jumper event to Kentucky Horse Park

The CP National Horse Show, a 5-day hunter/jumper event consistently ranked by the North American Riders Group as one of the top shows in the United States, takes place at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park beginning Tuesday, Oct. 31.
A full array of hunter divisions, Junior & Amateur Owner Jumpers, the top Open Jumpers from the USA and around the world, and the Maclay National Championship...
Mason Phelps goes extra lengths to make long-running National Horse Show shine
Mason Phelps almost missed his first National Horse Show after he got caught sneaking into the 1967 event in Madison Square Garden. Phelps is now president and producer of the storied equestrian event. (Photo by Elizabeth Adams)
By Elizabeth Adams
KyForward correspondent
To get to Madison Square Garden in New York City for his first National Horse Show in 1967, a young Mason Phelps hitched...
Betsy Waters: Kentucky Reining Cup ticket giveaway; win passes for April 25-27 show
2013 CRI3* Champion Shawn Flarida aboard Wimps Quixote Cody (Photo from Kentucky Reining)
The Bluegrass is known for horses and incredible horse and rider events. A special form of competition takes center stage at the Alltech Arena April 25–27 as the Kentucky Reining Cup comes to the Kentucky Horse Park.
And, thanks to KyForward, you can enter to win tickets to this unique event. Two...
World-class horsemen compete in training showdown at the Road to the Horse challenge
The Kentucky Horse Park will welcome the Road to the Horse competition for top equine trainers this week. (Photo from Road to the Horse International)
Road to the Horse International 2014, a one-of-a-kind horsemanship experience that combines education and entertainment for all, will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena March 13-16. During weekend events, a group of elite...
Reining championship in Lexington qualifies riders for upcoming World Equestrian Games
For the fourth consecutive year, top international horses and riders will compete in Lexington as the Kentucky Horse Park hosts the Kentucky Reining Cup, April 24-27, 2014.
The Kentucky Reining Cup returns to the Alltech Arena in Lexington April 24-27. (Photo from Kentucky Reining)
The Kentucky Reining Cup has become established as a major competition on the international reining calendar,...
Top riders return to Lexington for the 2014 Kentucky Reining Cup, tickets now on sale
Rider Shawn Flarida competes in the 2013 World Reining Cup at the Alltech Arena. The premier event in reining will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park this April. (Photo by Ben Radvanyi)
John Nicholson to retire as Kentucky Horse Park’s longest-serving executive director
The Kentucky Horse Park’s longest-standing executive director John Nicholson will retire on April 1. Serving in the position since June of 1997, Nicholson steered the world’s largest park dedicated to the horse during a period of growth, garnering worldwide recognition for its facilities.
“With our recent 35th anniversary, I started to think about my own history with the park...
John Nicholson to retire as Kentucky Horse Park's longest-serving executive director
The Kentucky Horse Park’s longest-standing executive director John Nicholson will retire on April 1. Serving in the position since June of 1997, Nicholson steered the world’s largest park dedicated to the horse during a period of growth, garnering worldwide recognition for its facilities.
“With our recent 35th anniversary, I started to think about my own history with the park...
This is their first rodeo – first rodeo team, that is, at sports-rich University of Kentucky
A group of UK students are finally realizing their dream of bringing the sport of rodeo, which includes barrel racing shown here, to the university. (Photo from Thinkstock.com)
By Holly Wiemers
Special to KyForward
There’s a new team on the roster for the University of Kentucky, one with barrels, bulls, roping, wrestling and a whole lot of enthusiasm by a group of students who have...
First-ever ‘Kentucky Gathering’ will be
celebration of horses, heritage and hops
This will be the first year for Kentucky Gathering, which will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 3 in conjunction with the Alltech National Horse Show. (Photo from Alltech)
Kentuckians will be drawn together Oct. 29-Nov. 3 for a new celebration – one that highlights the athleticism of horses, the tastes and sounds of Kentucky’s heritage, and the hops of the talented craft brewers across the state.
This...